Music played an important role in the Civil War. The drum and fife kept soldiers in step as they marched for miles, the bugle gave commands on the battlefield, soldiers sang to keep up morale or express sentimental thoughts of home and people at home sang about their soldiers, and slaves sang of freedom. General Robert E. Lee commander of the Confederate Army himself said " I dont' beleive we can have an army without music."
Today and in the 20th century most people call the songs from the civil war era both befor and after as folk music. This is an accurate description in a multitude of ways. Folk music is generally understood to be songs that fall into a litany of categories. Passed down orally, the composeris unknown, it reflects customs and traditions of a culture or community, thought to come from the working or lower class, and lastly the music expresses a way of life that is long gone. The music of the civil war is rich folk music that follows most of these definitions.
The music of the Civil War Era is an important and pivotal time in american music. Prior to the civil war, people were not in a state of transit and travel was limited. The building of the railroads at this time increases travel and communication, but the war puts people together from various parts of the country that under normal circumstances would not be mingling. This allowed for a favorite tune from a boy in Maine to be shared with a fellow soldier from Pennsylvania. Songs from a southern soldier in a hospital was shared with a northerner. Often popular tunes would have their lyrics changed to suit certain aspects of the war or ideals.





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Closing